pozabankowa

Pozabankowa is a Polish term meaning non-banking. In finance, it is used to describe financial services and products offered by institutions other than traditional banks. The adjective is commonly applied to pożyczka pozabankowa (non-banking loan), kredyt pozabankowy, or pożyczki chwilówki, provided by non-banking financial companies, payday lenders, credit cooperatives, and online lenders.

These products are typically marketed as faster and more accessible than bank loans, with simplified eligibility criteria and online application processes. They often target individuals who need funds quickly or who do not qualify for a bank loan. The loans are usually unsecured, have shorter terms, and carry higher costs in the form of higher interest rates and fees, compared with bank products.

Regulation and protection: In Poland, non-banking lending falls under general financial market law, including the act on consumer credit and supervised activities by the KNF. Lenders must present the total cost of credit and annual percentage rate (APR) and comply with consumer protection rules, including advertising transparency and fair debt collection. Consumers are advised to compare offers, check the total repayment amount, and understand the terms before agreeing to a non-banking loan.

In practice, pozabankowa loans complement bank lending by offering rapid access to funds but also carry higher cost risks. The concept is widely used in Polish financial discourse to distinguish lending outside the traditional banking sector from bank loans.